Omega European Masters... A Spectacular Golf Tournament
High above the small town of Sierre in the Rhone valley is held the Omega European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans-Montana. Almost immediately when you approach this village you notice the beautiful Swiss chalets decorated with flowers hanging in front of their windows. Crans and Montana-Vermala are actually twin resorts with plenty of hotels and other accommodations. They offer you golf in the summer and skiing in the winter in an all inclusive resort atmosphere. At the beginning of the 20th century the region around today's Crans-Montana became richer for another leisure activity - the Golf Sport. At first only the Elite Class, mostly British guests enjoyed and relaxed in playing golf. In the mean time this sport has opened also for the public and is the finest golf courses in the Alps. But regardless of that, every year many of the high society are present at this prestige Omega European Masters Golf Tournament. Crans-Montana offers you various golf courses if you ever plan to come here for a vacation to play golf. Here you will find one of the most famous courses in the world, the 18-hole "Severiano Ballesteros" course where the Omega European Masters event is held. And three 9-hole courses that can challenge even the best golfers around. For beginners (those without a handicap), there are two courses available: the "Noas" and the "Super-Crans. Please note that the Noas" parcours is in Chermignon-Dessous and is open all year around. Parcours: Ballesteros Parcours: Jack Nicklaus Parcours: Super-Crans Noas (Chermignon-Dessous) Driving Range 
On Sunday on the last day of the event I visited this fine Omega European Masters Tournament since it is not very far from where Iive. The weather was just beautiful as expected because Montana is a wonderful sun-soaked resort with a spectacular panorama to many peaks in the French and Swiss Alps. Here, nature plays its part and that is probably the reason why the golf event in Montana has so much prestige. A golf course at 5,000 ft surrounded by some of the Swiss Alps highest mountains. This year's Omega European Masters event (2006) attracted more people because everybody wanted to see in action Michelle Wie of the USA. She found Steve Ballesteros' contoured greens more than a little tough. And the one that worried her the most was the par-four seventh, which hangs on the side of the valley. Unfortunately this young talent droped out early and at the end, Dredge Bradley of Wales won the event. Contact Information How to get to Crans-Montana: Geneva International Airport is only two and a half hours by train to the towns of Sion or Sierre. From there you can take a 30 minute bus ride to the resort of Crans-Montana. Alternatively, you could catch a train from London via Paris and Lausanne or just drive from most European countries. London and Zurich also service the Sion Airport from where you can catch a bus or rent a car. Most famous people and celebrities fly directly to Sion airport by private jet or by charterand then rent a limousine to head for the resort or they get picked up by a driver from a luxury hotel. Return from Omega European Masters to Switzerland Tourism Return from Omega European Masters to High End Travel Switzerland Home Page
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I must admit that I am not a golfer but rather prefer skiing or watch the 